Gaming Method And Gaming Machine Accepting Side Bet

ABSTRACT

A playing method of a card game according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) dealing a predetermined number of cards to a player as player&#39;s cards and dealing a predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker&#39;s cards; (b) placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (c) dividing the predetermined number of the player&#39;s cards and the predetermined number of the banker&#39;s cards into two sets of cards, respectively; (d) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player&#39;s cards divided into two sets with hands of the banker&#39;s cards divided into two sets; (e) dealing additional cards to the player and the banker, when determining that the game results in a tie or losing of the player in the step (d) and that the side BET is placed in the step (b); (f) dividing the player&#39;s cards and the banker&#39;s cards into three sets of cards, respectively, both the player&#39;s cards and the banker&#39;s cards including the additional cards dealt in the step (e); and (g) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player&#39;s cards divided into three sets with hands of the banker&#39;s cards divided into three sets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/905,570 filed on Mar. 8, 2007. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gaming method and a gaming machine accepting side BETs.

2. Discussion of the Background

Conventionally, there have been gaming machines capable of accepting side BETs different from normal BETs. For example, in blackjack, when an upcard is an “A” card out of dealer's two cards, a player can place a side BET called insurance, in addition to a normal BET. In a case of placing insurance, the player adds the wager by half of an initial wager. When the dealer's hand is “Natural 21”, the amount twice the value of the side BET (insurance) is paid out. Further, for example, in Caribbean stud poker, a side BET is cumulatively accumulated as a progressive jackpot. When a player places a side BET in addition to an ante (a normal BET), he or she can acquire a part of or the entire progressive jackpot, according to the established hand. A game capable of accepting side BETs of this kind is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,801, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,525 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,786.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming method and a gaming machine capable of accepting side BETs, thus exhibiting new entertainment.

The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,801, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,525 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,786 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a playing method of a card game having the following structure.

Namely, the above mentioned playing method of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing a predetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealing a predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b) placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (c) dividing the predetermined number of the player's cards and the predetermined number of the banker's cards into two sets of cards, respectively; (d) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player's cards divided into two sets with hands of the banker's cards divided into two sets; (e) dealing additional cards to the player and the banker, when determining that the game results in a tie or losing of the player in the step (d) and that the side BET is placed in the step (b); (f) dividing the player's cards and the banker's cards into three sets of cards, respectively, both the player's cards and the banker's cards including the additional cards dealt in the step (e); and (g) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player's cards divided into three sets with hands of the banker's cards divided into three sets.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a playing method of a card game having the following structures.

Namely, the above mentioned playing method of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing a predetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealing a predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b) placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (c) cumulatively accumulating a predetermined ratio of a side-BET currency value; (d) dividing the predetermined number of the player's cards and the predetermined number of the banker's cards into two sets of cards, respectively; (e) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player's cards divided into two sets with hands of the banker's cards divided into two sets; (f) dealing additional cards to the player and the banker, when determining that the game results in a tie or losing of the player in the step (e) and that the side BET is placed in the step (b); (g) dividing the player's cards and the banker's cards into three sets of cards, respectively, both the player's cards and the banker's cards including the additional cards dealt in the step (f); (h) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player's cards divided into three sets with hands of the banker's cards divided into three sets; and (i) providing an award from cumulatively accumulated currency value, based on the result of winning/losing determination.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a playing method of a card game having the following structures.

Namely, the above mentioned playing method of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing a first predetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealing a first predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b) placing a normal BET; (c) placing a side BET different from the normal BET; (d) dividing the first predetermined number of the player's cards into cards for a first game and cards for a second game different from the first game in type; (e) dividing the first predetermined number of the banker's cards into cards for the first game and cards for the second game; (f) determining a result of the first game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the first game with the hand of the banker's cards for the first game; (g) determining a result of the second game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the second game with the hand of the banker's cards for the second game; (h) providing an award based on the normal BET and the result of the games, when both the first game and the second game result in winning of the player; (i) acquiring a second predetermined number of the player's cards and a second predetermined number of the banker's cards by adding cards to the first predetermined number of the player's cards and the first predetermined number of the banker's cards, respectively, when the first game and the second game result in different winners and the side BET is placed in the step (c), or when both the first game and the second game result in losing of the player and the side BET is placed in the step (c); (j) dividing the second predetermined number of the player's cards acquired in the step (i) and the second predetermined number of the banker's cards acquired in the step (i) into cards for a third game, cards for a fourth game, and cards for a fifth game, respectively; (k) determining a result of the third game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the third game with the hand of the banker's cards for the third game; (l) determining a result of the fourth game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the fourth game with the hand of the banker's cards for the fourth game; (m) determining a result of the fifth game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the fifth game with the hand of the banker's cards for the fifth game; and (n) providing an award, based on the result of the third game, the result of the fourth game, the result of the fifth game, and the side BET.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine having the following structures.

Namely, the gaming machine comprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; an input device; and a controller. The controller is programmed to conduct the processing of: (a) displaying a predetermined number of player's cards and a predetermined number of banker's cards to the display; (b) accepting a side BET different from a normal BET, from the input device; (c) dividing the predetermined number of the player's cards and the predetermined number of the banker's cards into two sets of cards, respectively, based on an input from the input device; (d) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player's cards divided into two sets and hands of the banker's cards divided into two sets; (e) displaying additional cards for the player's cards and additional cards for the banker's cards to the display, when determining that the game results in a tie or losing of the player in the processing (d) and that the side BET is placed in the processing (b); (f) dividing the player's cards including the cards added in the processing (e) into three sets of cards, based on an input from the input device, and dividing the banker's cards including the cards added in the processing (e) into three sets of cards; and (g) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player's cards divided into three sets with hands of the banker's cards divided into three sets

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine having the following structures.

Namely, the gaming machine comprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; an input device; and a controller. The controller is programmed to conduct the processing of: (a) displaying a predetermined number of player's cards and a predetermined number of banker's cards to the display; (b) accepting a side BET different from a normal BET, from the input device; (c) cumulatively accumulating a predetermined ratio of a side-BET currency value; (d) dividing the predetermined number of the player's cards and the predetermined number of the banker's cards into two sets of cards, respectively, based on an input from the input device; (e) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player's cards divided into two sets and hands of the banker's cards divided into two sets; (f) displaying additional cards for the player's cards and additional cards for the banker's cards to the display, when determining that the game results in a tie or losing of the player in the processing (e) and that the side BET is placed in the processing (b); (g) dividing the player's cards including the cards added in the processing (f) into three sets of cards, based on an input from the input device, and dividing the banker's cards including the cards added in the processing (f) into three sets of cards; (h) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player's cards divided into three sets with hands of the banker's cards divided into three sets; and (i) providing an award from cumulatively accumulated currency value, based on the result of winning/losing determination.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine having the following structures.

Namely, the gaming machine comprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; an input device; and a controller. The controller is programmed to conduct the processing of: (a) displaying a first predetermined number of player's cards and a first predetermined number of banker's cards to the display; (b) accepting a normal BET from the input device; (c) accepting a side BET different from the normal BET, from the input device; (d) dividing the first predetermined number of the player's cards into cards for a first game and cards for a second game different from the first game in type, based on an input from the input device; (e) dividing the first predetermined number of the banker's cards into cards for the first game and cards for the second game; (f) determining a result of the first game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the first game with the hand of the banker's cards for the first game; (g) determining a result of the second game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the second game with the hand of the banker's cards for the second game; (h) providing an award based on the normal BET and the result of the games, when both the first game and the second game result in winning of the player; (i) displaying, to the display, a second predetermined number of the player's cards and a second predetermined number of the banker's cards acquired by adding cards to the first predetermined number of the player's cards and the first predetermined number of the banker's cards, respectively, when the first game and the second game result in different winners and the side BET is placed in the processing (c), or when both the first game and the second game result in losing of the player and the side BET is placed in the processing (c); (j) dividing the second predetermined number of the player's cards acquired in the processing (i) into cards for a third game, cards for a fourth game, and cards for a fifth game, based on the input from the input device, and dividing the second predetermined number of the banker's cards acquired in the processing (i) into cards for a third game, cards for a fourth game, and cards for a fifth game; (k) determining a result of the third game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the third game with the hand of the banker's cards for the third game; (l) determining a result of the fourth game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the fourth game with the hand of the banker's cards for the fourth game; (m) determining a result of the fifth game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the fifth game with the hand of the banker's cards for the fifth game; and (n) providing an award, based on the result of the third game, the result of the fourth game, the result of the fifth game, and the side BET.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a flow chart illustrating main-control-portion-side processing conducted in a main control portion included in a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is another flow chart illustrating main-control-portion-side processing conducted in the main control portion included in the gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external structure of the gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external structure of a station included in the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a front display included in the gaming machine.

FIG. 5 is another view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a front display included in the gaming machine.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a liquid crystal display included in a station.

FIG. 7 is another view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a liquid crystal display included in a station.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of a station included in the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10A is a flow chart illustrating a subroutine of station-side processing conducted in a station according one embodiment.

FIG. 10B is another flow chart illustrating a subroutine of station-side processing conducted in the station according to one embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

There will be described an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

In the following embodiment, there will be described a case where Pai-Gow poker is played, and when the Pai-Gow poker results in a tie or losing of the player, cards are added and Chinese poker is played, on condition that a side BET is placed.

First, the rule of Pai-Gow poker will be described.

In Pai-Gow poker according to the present embodiment, a banker, and a single player or a plurality of players play a game against each other, using a single set of playing cards (52 cards) excluding a joker.

At first, seven cards are dealt to each of the banker and the players. The banker and the players divide their dealt seven cards into a set of five cards and a set of two cards. At this time, the hand of five cards (a high hand) must be as strong as the hand of two cards (the low hand) or stronger than the hand of two cards. Next, by comparing the banker's hand of five cards with the player's hand of five cards, which of them is stronger than the other is determined. In this comparison, when the strengths of the banker's hand and the player's hand are equal, it is determined that the banker's hand is the stronger of the two. Similarly, by comparing the banker's hand of two cards and the player's hand of two cards, which of them is stronger than the other is determined. Also in this comparison, when the strengths of the banker's hand and the player's hand are equal, it is determined that the banker's hand is the stronger of the two. When both the banker's hands of five cards and two cards are stronger than those of the player's, the game results in winning of the banker. When both the player's hands of five cards and two cards are stronger than those of the banker's, the game results in winning of the player. When one player's hand, out of the hands of five cards and two cards, is stronger than the banker's corresponding hand and the other banker's hands is stronger than the player's corresponding hand, the game is tied. Also, when both the player's hands of five cards and two cards are as strong as the banker's hands, the game results in winning of the banker. Further, as hands of five cards, there are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two pair, One pair and No Pair, in the order of strength. As hands of two cards, there are One Pair and No Pair, in the order of strength.

Next, the rule of Chinese poker will be described.

In Chinese poker, a single set of playing cards (52 cards) excluding a joker, is used.

First, 13 cards are dealt to each of the game participants. Each participant divides the dealt 13 cards into three sets: a set of five cards, another set of five cards and a set of three cards. At this time, the hands of five cards must be as strong as the hand of three cards or stronger than the hand of three cards. Of the hands of five cards, the stronger hand is referred to as a “back hand”, and the weaker hand is referred to as a “middle hand”. Further, the hand of three cards is referred to as a “front hand”. As hands of five cards, there are Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and No Pair, in descending order of strength. As for the hands of three cards, there are Three of a Kind, One Pair and No Pair, in descending order of strength. Which hand is the strongest among the participants' hands is determined by comparing participants' back hands, middle hands and front hands, and in comparisons with respect to each of the hands, every time the participant defeats a single participant, 1 winning point is offered to the winning participant. Further, as a bonus, 5 points are offered to a player who establishes Royal Flush, 4 points are offered to a player who establishes Straight Flush, 3 points are offered to a player who establishes Four of a Kind, 1 point is offered to a player who establishes Full House with his or her middle hand, and 2 points are offered to a player who establishes Three of a Kind with his or her front hand. Further, another 1 point is offered to the player who gains a highest total of winning points, and a payout is offered to each player based on his or her winning points.

It should be noted that, in Chinese poker according to the present embodiment, a player and a banker play a game against each other.

In the present embodiment, Pai-Gow poker is played, wherein, a normal BET and a side BET are accepted. Here, a normal BET is a BET placed on the winning or losing of Pai-Gow poker, while a side BET is a BET placed to execute a game of Chinese poker in the event that the game of Pai-Gow poker results in a tie or losing of the player. A predetermined ratio (50% in the present embodiment) of a side-BET currency value is cumulatively accumulated as a jackpot (hereinafter also referred to as “JP”). When the game of Pai-Gow poker results in a tie or losing of the player, on condition that the side BET is placed, six cards are added to the player's cards and the banker's cards respectively, and the player and the banker play a game of a Chinese poker using their own 13 cards. When the game results in winning of the player (when the player gains winning points higher than the banker's winning points), a JP is offered. Further, in the present embodiment, there will be described a case where a dealer serves as a banker.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are flow charts illustrating main-control-portion-side processing conducted in a main control portion included in a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

First, there will be described processing conducted in the main control portion 40 (see FIG. 8) included in the gaming machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

At first, in step S101 in FIG. 1A, a CPU 41 (see FIG. 8) included in the main control portion 40 receives BET information from the station 3 (see FIG. 2). The BET information relates to BETs and includes information about whether or not a normal BET and a side BET are placed and the values of the normal BET and the side BET.

Next, in step S102, the CPU 41 cumulatively stores 50% of a side-BET credit as a JP in a RAM 42 (see FIG. 8) based on BET information received in step S101.

Next, in step S103, the CPU 41 determines seven cards to be dealt to each of the player and the banker, out of a single set of playing cards, using random numbers. The seven cards determined to be dealt to the player in step S103 corresponds to a first predetermined number of player's cards according to the present invention, while the seven cards determined to be dealt to the banker corresponds to a first predetermined number of banker's cards according to the present invention. Further, card images indicative of the seven banker's cards are displayed facing down to a front display 21 (see FIG. 2) included in the gaming machine 1.

Next, in step S104, the CPU 41 transmits to-be-dealt cards information to the station 3. The to-be-dealt cards information includes information indicative of the types of the cards (ranks and suits [heart, club, spade, diamond]) determined to be dealt to the player and the banker.

The station 3 displays card images indicative of the seven player's cards to a liquid crystal display 10, based on the received to-be-dealt cards information, and accepts an input for dividing the cards into a set of five cards (a high hand) and a set of two cards (a low hand).

Next, in step S105, the CPU 41 receives selection information from the station 3. The selection information is information indicating which cards are selected as the high hand and which cards are selected as the low hand.

Next, in step S106, the CPU 41 conducts processing for dividing the cards dealt to the banker into a high hand and a low hand. The high hand (five banker's cards) acquired in the processing in step S106 corresponds to banker's cards for a first game according to the present invention, while the low hand (two banker's cards) corresponds to banker's cards for a second game according to the present invention.

Next, in step S107, the CPU 41 displays card images indicative of the high hand and the low hand determined in step S106 with their faces up, to the front display 21.

Next, in step S108, the CPU 41 conducts processing for determining winning or losing of the game, based on the selection information received in step S105 and the high hand and the low hand determined in step S106. More specifically, the CPU 41 determines winning or losing of the game based on the results of determination, in which the CPU 41 determines which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the player's high hand with the banker's high hand and the player's low hand with the banker's low hand. More specifically, when the player's high hand is stronger than the banker's high hand and the player's low hand is stronger than the banker's low hand, the player wins, and when the banker's high hand is stronger than the player's high hand and the banker's low hand is stronger than the player's low hand, the banker wins. When one player's hand, out of the high hand and the low hand, is stronger than the banker's corresponding hand and the other banker's hand is stronger than the player's corresponding hand, the game is tied. It should be noted that, in a comparison between high hands and in a comparison between low hands, when the strengths of the banker's hand and the player's hand are equal, it is determined that the banker's hand is the stronger of the two.

Determining which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the player's high hand with the banker's high hand corresponds to a first game according to the present invention, while determining which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the player's low hand with the banker's low hand corresponds to a second game according to the present invention.

Next, in step S109, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of the winning or losing of the game determined in step S108 (hereinafter, also referred to as winning/losing information) to the station 3. The station 3, on receiving the winning/losing information, displays a single image describing any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie” to the liquid crystal display 10, based on the winning/losing information.

Next, in step S110, the CPU 41 transmits normal BET payout information to the station 3. The normal BET payout information is information indicative of the value of a credit (currency value) to be paid out for a normal BET. More specifically, when the player wins, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of a credit value which is twice the value of the normal BET, and in the event of a tie, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of the same credit value as the value of the normal BET. Also, when the banker wins, the CPU 41 transmits information indicating that the value of a credit to be offered is 0.

Next, in step S111 in FIG. 1B, the CPU 41 determines whether or not a signal indicative of the Pai-Gow poker game resulting in a tie or losing of the player and a side BET being placed (hereinafter, also referred to as a side BET signal) is received from the station 3. When the CPU 41 determines that no side BET signal is received, the present main-control-portion-side processing ends.

On the other hand, in step S112, when the CPU 41 determines that it has received a side BET signal, the CPU 41 determines six cards to be additionally dealt to each of the player and the banker, using random numbers.

The 13 player's cards, which is the sum of the seven cards determined to be dealt to the player in step S103 and the six cards determined to be dealt to the player in step S112, correspond to a second predetermined number of player's cards according to the present invention. The 13 banker's cards, which is the sum of the seven cards determined to be dealt to the banker in step S103 and the six cards determined to be dealt to the banker instep S112, correspond to a second predetermined number of banker's cards according to the present invention.

Next, in step S113, the CPU 41 transmits additional-cards information to the station 3. The additional-cards information includes information indicative of the types (ranks and suits [heart, club, spade, and diamond]) of the cards determined to be additionally dealt to the player.

The station 3, based on the received additional-cards information, displays card images indicative of the six player's cards to the liquid crystal display 10 in addition to the seven player's cards already displayed thereto, and receives inputs for dividing the 13 cards into two sets of five cards and a set of three cards.

Next, in step S114, the CPU 41 conducts processing for dividing the 13 banker's cards including the cards determined to be dealt in step S112 into two sets of five cards and a set of three cards.

Among the three sets of cards acquired in step S114, the set of five cards with which the strongest hand (back hand) is established corresponds to banker's cards for a third game according to the present invention, the set of five cards with which the second strongest hand (middle hand) is established corresponds to banker's cards for a fourth game, and the set of three cards (front hand) corresponds to banker's cards for a fifth game.

Next, in step S115, the CPU 41 receives selection information from the station 3 after the division of the 13 cards.

Next, in step S116, the CPU 41 displays, to the front display 21, card images indicative of the banker's back hand, middle hand and front hand determined in step S114, with their faces up. The CPU 41 also displays, to a player's cards display portion 35 (see FIG. 5) in the front display 21, card images indicating the player's back hand, middle hand and front hand based on the selection information received in step S115. The processing in step S116 enables players who are not taking part in Chinese poker to know the progress and the result of Chinese poker.

Next, in step S117, the CPU 41 conducts processing for determining winning or losing of the game, based on the selection information received in step S115 and the banker's back hand, middle hand and front hand determined in step S114. More specifically, the CPU 41 determines which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the player's back hand with the banker's back hand, and offers 1 winning point to the one having the stronger hand. Similarly, the CPU 41 determines which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the player's middle hand with the banker's middle hand, and offers 1 winning point to the one having the stronger hand, and the CPU 41 also determines which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the player's front hand with the banker's front hand, and offers 1 winning point to the one having the stronger hand. Further, when the player or the banker establishes Royal Flush, 5 points are offered to him or her. Also, when the player or the banker establishes Straight Flush, 4 points are offered to him or her. Also, when the player or the banker establishes Four of a Kind, 3 points are offered to him or her. Also, when the player or the banker establishes Full House with his or her middle hand, 1 point is offered to him or her. Also, when the player or the banker establishes Three of a Kind with his or her front hand, 2 points are offered to him or her. Further, another 1 point is offered to the player or the banker who gains a higher total of winning points, and he or she is determined to be a winner. Determining which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the player's back hand with the banker's back hand corresponds to a third game according to the present invention, determining which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the player's middle hand with the banker's middle hand corresponds to a fourth game according to the present invention, and determining which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the player's front hand with the banker's front hand corresponds to a fifth game according to the present invention.

Next, in step S118, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of the winning or losing of the game determined in step S117 (hereinafter, also referred to as winning/losing information) to the station 3.

The station 3, on receiving the winning/losing information, displays an image describing any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie”, and an image indicating gained winning points of the player to the liquid crystal display 10, based on the winning/losing information.

Next, in step S119, the CPU 41 transmits JP payout information to the station 3. The JP payout information is information indicative of the value of a JP credit (the currency value) to be paid out for the side BET. More specifically, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of a credit value corresponding to a full amount of a JP when the player wins the game by 5 winning points or more, information indicative of the credit value corresponding to 50% of the JP when the player wins the game by 4 winning points, and information indicative of the credit value corresponding to 10% of the JP when the player wins the game by 3 winning points or less. Further, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of the same credit value as the value of the side BET in the event of a tie (equal points). Also, when the banker wins, the CPU 41 transmits information indicating that the value of credits to be offered is 0.

In the present embodiment, there has been described a case where a full amount of the JP for winning by 5 winning points or more, 50% of the JP for winning by 4 winning points, and 10% of the JP for winning by 3 winning points or less is offered when the player wins in a game of Chinese poker. However, in the present invention, the correspondence between the amount of JP to be offered and the winning point is not limited thereto. Further, in the present invention, all the currency value cumulatively accumulated as the JP may be offered regardless of the winning point, when the player wins the third game.

Further, while, in the present embodiment, there will be described a case where a credit as same the value as the side BET is paid out in the event of a tie, no payout may be offered in the event of a tie. After the execution of the processing in step S119, the present main-control-portion-side processing ends.

Next, there will be described the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external structure of the gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the gaming machine 1 is basically comprised of a main monitor 2 and five stations 3 (stations 3 a to 3 e). Further, while, in the present embodiment, there will be described a case where the gaming machine 1 comprises a plurality of (five) stations 3, the number of stations included in a gaming machine may be one, in the present invention.

At the center portion of the main monitor 2, there is provided a front display 21 for displaying images indicating a dealer, cards and an amount of JP. The front display 21 corresponds to a display according to the present invention. Further, on the upper side of the main monitor 2, there are provided a plurality of speakers 22 for outputting music and an effect sound along with the progression of a game executed in the gaming machine 1 and a plurality of LEDs 23 which are lighted during various types of effects.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external structure of a station included in the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, at the center of the upper surface of the station 3, there is provided a liquid crystal display 10 for displaying an image relating to an operation (see FIGS. 6 and 7) and the like as will be described later. The liquid crystal display 10 corresponds to a display according to the present invention. Further, on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display 10, there is provided a touch panel 11 for inputting an operation for a BET and the like. The touch panel 11 corresponds to an input device according to the present invention.

In front of the liquid crystal display 10, there are provided a plurality of operation buttons 12 for performing a payout operation, and a coin insertion slot 13 for inserting a coin or a medal thereto.

At the right end of the upper portion of the front surface of the station 3, there is provided a bill insertion slot 14 for inserting a bill thereto. Below the bill insertion slot 14, there is provided a coin payout exit 15 for paying out the number of coins or medals corresponding to the accumulated credit to the player, when a payout operation is performed.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are views illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to the front display included in a gaming machine.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary image displayed to the front display 21 when executing a game of Pai-Gow poker. As illustrated in FIG. 4, at an upper portion of the front display 21, there is provided a JP display portion 33 for displaying an amount of JP. Further, the front display 21 displays a dealer image 30 indicating a dealer (banker), a table image. 31 indicating a table, and card images 32 indicating seven banker's cards. The card images 32 are displayed facing down, when cards are dealt to the dealer. When the banker's high hand and the low hand are determined, the card images 32 are displayed facing up. The five cards on the observer's left side in FIG. 4 indicate the high hand, while the two cards on the right side indicate the low hand.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary image displayed to the front display 21 when executing a game of Chinese poker. As illustrated in FIG. 5, there are displayed card images 34 indicating the banker's back hand, middle hand and front hand in Chinese poker, in such a way that they are superimposed on the table image 31. In FIG. 5, the five cards in the back with respect to the observer indicate the back hand, the five cards in front of the back hand indicate the middle hand, and the three cards at a front most side indicate the front hand. Further, at a lower portion of the front display 21, there is provided the player's cards display portion 35 for displaying the cards dealt to the player, and alphabetical characters of A to E displayed in the player's cards display portion 35 respectively correspond to the stations 3 a to 3 e (see FIG. 2) included in the gaming machine 1. To the player's cards display portion 35 “A”, there are displayed player's card images 36 indicating the cards dealt to the player, which indicates the fact that the player at the station 3 a is taking part in a game of Chinese poker.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are views illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to a liquid crystal display included in a station.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary image displayed to a liquid crystal display 10 when executing a game of Pai-Gow poker. As illustrated in FIG. 6, at an upper portion of the liquid crystal display 10, there are provided a high-hand display portion 80 for displaying the player's high hand and a low-hand display portion 81 for displaying the player's low hand. To the high-hand display portion 80 and the low-hand display portion 81, there are displayed card images 82 indicating the cards of the high hand and a card images 82 indicating the cards of the low hand, respectively, with their faces up. Under the high-hand display portion 80, there is provided a dealt-card display portion 83. To the seven dotted boxes in the dealt-card display portion 83, card images indicating the seven player's cards dealt to the player are displayed with their faces up. On the right side of the dealt-card display portion 83, there are provided a high-hand determination button 84 and a low-hand determination button 85 for determining the cards constituting the high hand and the low hand. The player can determine a high hand by selecting cards that he or she desires to have in his or her high hand out of the cards displayed to the dealt-card display portion 83 through the touch panel 11 and operating the high-hand determination button 84 through the touch panel 11. The cards determined to be included in the high hand are displayed to the high-hand display portion 80. Similarly, the player can determine a low hand by selecting cards that he or she desires to have in his or her low hand out of the cards displayed to the dealt-card display portion 83 through the touch panel 11 and operating the low-hand determination button 85 through the touch panel 11.

Under the dealt-card display portion 83, there is provided a BET button display portion 86. To the BET button display portion 86, there are displayed BET buttons 87 for inputting the number of BETs. The player can input the number of normal BETs and the number of side BETs by operating the BET buttons 87 through the touch panel 11.

At the right side of the BET button display portion 86, there is provided a number-of-normal-BETs display portion 88 for displaying the number of coins being betted as a normal BET. FIG. 6 illustrates that 28 coins are betted. Further, in order to input a BET of 28 coins, the player can operate a “10” BET button 87 twice, “5” BET button 87 once and a “1” BET button 87 three times.

At the right side of the number-of-normal-BETs display portion 88, there is provided a number-of-side-BETs display portion 89 for displaying the number of coins betted as a side BET. FIG. 6 illustrates that 10 coins are betted.

At the right side of the number-of-side-BETs display portion 89, there is provided the number-of-credits display portion 90. FIG. 6 illustrates that 500 coins are being credited.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary image displayed to the liquid crystal display 10 when executing a game of Chinese poker. As illustrated in FIG. 7, at a lower portion of the liquid crystal display 10, there is provided a Chinese-poker-cards display portion 101 to which the card images 102 indicating a total of 13 cards, which is the sum of the seven cards dealt in a game of Pai-Gow poker and the six cards dealt in a game of Chinese poker, are displayed. At the right side with respect to the Chinese-poker-cards display portion 101, there are provided a back-hand determination button 103 for determining cards constituting a back hand, a middle-hand determination button 104 for determining cards constituting a middle hand, and a front-hand determination button 105 for determining cards constituting a front hand. For example, the player can determine cards constituting a back hand, by selecting the cards that he or she desires to have in his or her back hand, out of the cards displayed to the Chinese-poker-cards display portion 101 through the touch panel 11, and then operating the back-hand determination button 103 through the touch panel 11.

Further, at the upper side in the liquid crystal display 10, there are provided a back-hand display portion 106 for displaying the cards determined as a back hand, a middle-hand display portion 107 for displaying the cards determined as a middle hand, and a front-hand display portion 108 for displaying the cards determined as a front hand.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the main control portion 40 provided in the gaming machine 1 comprises a microcomputer 45 as the core, which basically includes a CPU 41, a RAM 42, a ROM 43, a timer 95, and a bus 44 for transferring data mutually among these devices. The main control portion 40 corresponds to a controller according to the present invention.

The ROM 43 stores various types of programs for conducting processing necessary for controlling the gaming machine 1, a data table and the like. The RAM 42 is a memory for temporarily storing various types of data calculated in the CPU 41. Further, the RAM 42 cumulatively stores credit data corresponding to a predetermined ratio (50% in the present embodiment) of a side-BET credit. Further, the timer 95 conducts time measurement.

Further, the CPU 41 is connected to an image processing circuit 47, a sound circuit 48, an LED driving circuit 49 and a communication interface 50 through an I/O interface 46.

The front display 21 included in the main monitor 2 is connected to the image processing circuit 47. The plurality of speakers 22 included in the main monitor 2 are connected to the sound circuit 48. The LEDs 23 included in the main monitor 2 are connected to the LED driving circuit 49. The five stations 3 are connected to the communication interface 50.

The CPU 41 progresses a game (Pai-Gow poker and Chinese poker) which is executed in the gaming machine 1, based on game programs (including a game program for Pai-Gow poker and a program for Chinese poker) stored in the ROM 43 and various types of signals received from the stations 3. The game program for Pai-Gow poker includes programs for the first game and the second game, and the game program for Chinese poker includes programs for the third game, the fourth game, and the fifth game) Further, the CPU 41 displays an image to the front display 21, outputs sound from the plurality of speakers 22 and lights the LEDs 23, based on the above-mentioned game programs. Further, the CPU 41 transmits various types of signals to the respective stations 3, based on the above-mentioned game programs.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of a station included in the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the station 3 includes, as the core, a microcomputer 55 which is basically comprised of a CPU 51, a RAM 52, a ROM 53, and a bus 54 for transferring data mutually among these devices.

The ROM 53 stores various types of programs for conducting processing necessary for controlling the station 3, data tables and the like. Further, the RAM 52 temporarily stores the number of credits currently accumulated in the station 3 and various types of data calculated in the CPU 51.

Further, the CPU 51 is connected to a liquid crystal panel driving circuit 57, a touch panel driving circuit 58, a hopper driving circuit 59, a payout completion signal circuit 60, an inserted-coin detecting signal circuit 67, a bill detecting signal circuit 64, an operation signal circuit 66 and a communication interface 61, through an I/O interface 56.

A liquid crystal display 10 is connected to the liquid crystal panel driving circuit 57. A touch panel 11 is connected to the touch panel driving circuit 58. A hopper 62 is connected to the hopper driving circuit 59. A coin detecting portion 63 is connected to the payout completion signal circuit 60. An inserted-coin detecting portion 68 is connected to the inserted-coin detecting signal circuit 67. A bill detecting portion 65 is connected to the bill detecting signal circuit 64. An operation button 12 is connected to the operation signal circuit 66.

The hopper 62 is provided inside the station 3 and pays out a coin through the coin payout exit 15 based on a control signal outputted from the CPU 51.

The coin detecting portion 63 is provided inside the coin payout exit 15 and transmits a signal to the CPU 51 on detecting a predetermined number of coins being paid out through the coin payout exit 15.

The inserted-coin detecting portion 68, on detecting a coin being inserted from the coin insertion slot 13, detects the value of the coin and transmits a detecting signal indicative of the detected value to the CPU 51. The detected value of the coin is counted regarding a predetermined value defined as 1 credit and is stored in the RAM 52.

The bill detecting portion 65, on accepting a bill, detects the value of the bill and transmits a detecting signal indicative of the detected value to the CPU 51. The detected value of the bill is counted regarding a predetermined value defined as 1 credit and is stored in the RAM 52.

The operation button 12 is a button for performing payout operations, when payout of the coin is determined.

Next, there will be described processing conducted in the main control portion 40 and the station 3. The processing in the main control portion 40 has been already described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. Therefore, only the processing conducted in the station 3 will be described.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are flow charts illustrating the station-side processing which is conducted in a station according to the present embodiment.

First, in step S201 in FIG. 10A, the CPU 51 included in the station 3 accepts an input of a normal BET and side BET, on receiving a signal from the touch panel 11, indicative of the detection of a contact, or a signal from the inserted-coin detecting portion 68, indicative of the detection of the coin insertion. This enables the player to input a normal BET and a side BET through the touch panel 11 included in the station 3.

Next, in step S202, the CPU 51 transmits BET information on the inputted BET to the main control portion 40. The main control portion 40, on receiving the BET information, cumulatively stores 50% of the side-BET credit as a JP in the RAM 42 (see step S102 in FIG. 1A).

Next, in step S203, the CPU 51 determines whether or not a side BET has been placed. When determining that a side BET has not been placed, the CPU 51 shifts the processing to step S205.

On the other hand, when determining that a side BET has been placed, the CPU 51 sets a side BET flag in step S204. The side BET flag is a flag indicting the fact that a side BET has been placed.

Next, in step S205, the CPU 51 receives to-be-dealt cards information indicative of the cards to be dealt to the player, from the main control portion 40.

Next, in step S206, the CPU 51 displays card images indicative of the seven player's cards to the dealt-card display portion 83 in the liquid crystal display 10, based on the to-be-dealt cards information received in step S205.

Next, in step S207, the CPU 51 accepts inputs of selections of a high hand and a low hand. This enables the player to determine a high hand and a low hand in the dealt cards by operating the high-hand determination button 84 and the low-hand determination button 85 through the touch panel 11. Of the player's cards divided into two sets of cards according to an input from the player at the acceptance of selection in step S207, the set of five player's cards corresponds to the player's cards for the first game and the set of two player's cards corresponds to the player's cards for the second game.

Next, in step S208, the CPU 51 transmits selection information based on the selection of the high hand and the low hand to the main control portion 40. The main control portion 40, on receiving the selection information, conducts processing for determining a high hand and a low hand of the banker's cards and determining the winning or losing of the game (see step S108 in FIG. 1A)

Next, in step S209, the CPU 51 receives winning/losing information transmitted from the main control portion 40 in step S109 in FIG. 1A.

Subsequently, the CPU 51 displays an image indicating any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie” to the dealt-card display portion 83 in the liquid crystal display 10, for a predetermined time period (10 seconds, in the present embodiment), based on the received winning/losing information.

Next, in step S210, the CPU 51 receives normal BET payout information from the main control portion 40. On receiving the normal BET payout information, the CPU 51 stores, in the RAM 52, credit data based on the normal BET payout information.

Next, in step S211, the CPU 51 pays out a credit based on the normal BET payout information received in step S210. The processing for paying out a credit based on the normal BET payout information from the main control portion 40 corresponds to processing for offering a payout based on a normal BET and the result of games, according to the present invention.

Next, in step S212 in FIG. 10B, the CPU 51 determines whether or not the game has resulted in winning of the player. When the CPU 51 determines that the game has resulted in winning of the player, the present subroutine ends.

On the other hand, when determining that the game has not resulted in winning of the player, i.e. when the game has resulted in a tie or losing of the player, the CPU 51 determines, in step S213, whether or not the side BET flag is “ON” (the side BET flag is set). When the CPU 51 determines that a side BET flag is not “ON”, the present subroutine ends.

On the other hand, when determining that the side BET flag is “ON”, the CPU 51 transmits, in step S214, a side BET signal indicating that the Pai-Gow poker game has resulted in a tie or losing of the player and that the side BET is placed, to the main control portion 40.

Next, in step S215, the CPU 51 receives additional-cards information from the main control portion 40.

Next, in step S216, the CPU 51 displays card images indicative of the six cards determined to be additionally dealt to the player, along with card images indicative of the seven cards which have been already dealt in Pai-Gow poker, to the Chinese-poker-cards display portion 101 in the liquid crystal display 10 (see FIG. 7), based on the additional-cards information received in step S215.

Next, in step S217, the CPU 51 accepts inputs to select the back hand, the middle hand, and the front hand. The processing in step S217 enables the player to select the back hand, the middle hand, and the front hand, through the touch panel 11. The back hand determined according to the input from the player at the acceptance of selection in step S217 corresponds to the player's cards for the third game according to the present invention, the middle hand corresponds to the player's cards for the fourth game according to the present invention, and the front hand corresponds to the player's cards for the fifth game according to the present invention.

Next, in step S218, the CPU 51 transmits selection information after the division of 13 cards, to the main control portion 40. The main control portion 40, on receiving the selection information, conducts processing for displaying the back hands, middle hands, and front hands of the player and the banker to the front display 21 and determining winning or losing of the game (see steps S116 to S117 in FIG. 1B).

Next, in step S219, the CPU 51 receives winning/losing information transmitted from the main control portion 40 in step S118 in FIG. 1B. Then, the CPU 51 displays, to the liquid crystal display 10, an image describing any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie”, and an image indicating the acquired winning points of the player, for a predetermined time period (10 seconds, in the present embodiment), based on the received winning/losing information.

Next, in step S220, the CPU 51 receives JP payout information from the main control portion 40. On receiving the JP payout information, the CPU 51 stores, in the RAM 52, credit data based on the JP payout information.

Next, in step S221, the CPU 51 pays out a credit based on the JP payout information received in step S220.

The processing for paying out a credit based on the side BET payout information from the main control portion 40 corresponds to processing for offering a payout based on the results of the third game, fourth game, and fifth game, and the side BET, according to the present invention.

After the execution of the processing in step S221, the present subroutine ends.

As described above, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment comprises: the front display 21 and the liquid crystal display 10 (display), which are capable of displaying a plurality of cards; the touch panel 11 (the input device); and the main control portion 40 (controller). The main control portion is programmed to conduct the following processing of: (a) displaying seven player's cards to the liquid crystal display 10 and displaying seven banker's cards to the front display 21; (b) accepting an input of a normal BET from the touch panel 11; (c) accepting an input of a side BET from the touch panel 11; (d) dividing the seven player's cards into a set of five cards for a first game and a set of two cards for a second game, based on the input through the touch panel 11; (e) dividing the seven banker's cards into a set of five cards for the first game and a set of two cards for the second game; (f) determining a result of the first game by comparing the hand of the five player's cards for the first game with the hand of the five banker's cards for the first game; (g) determining a result of the second game by comparing the hand of the two player's cards for the second game with the hand of the two banker's cards for the second game; (h) offering a payout based on the inputted normal BET and the result of the games, when both the first game and the second game result in winning of the player; (i) displaying 13 player's cards to the liquid crystal display 10 and displaying 13 banker's cards to the front display 21, both sets of cards acquired by adding six cards to the seven player's cards and the seven banker's cards, respectively, when the first game and the second game result in different winners and the side BET is placed in the processing (c), or when both the first game and the second game result in losing of the player and the side BET is placed in the processing (c); (j) dividing the 13 player's cards acquired in the processing (i) into five cards for a third game, five cards for a fourth game, and three cards for a fifth game, based on the input from the touch panel 11, and dividing the 13 banker's cards acquired in the processing (i) into five cards for a third game, five cards for a fourth game, and three cards for a fifth game; (k) determining a result of the third game by comparing the hand of the five player's cards for the third game with the hand of the five banker's cards for the third game; (l) determining a result of the fourth game by comparing the hand of the five player's cards for the fourth game with the hand of the five banker's cards for the fourth game; (m) determining a result of the fifth game by comparing the hand of the three player's cards for the fifth game with the hand of the three banker's cards for the fifth game; and (n) offering a payout, based on the result of the third game, the result of the fourth game, the result of the fifth game, and the side BET.

While, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where the card game is played using the gaming machine 1, the card game may be played without using a gaming machine (for example, a banker and a player may play a game around an actual table) in the present invention. In this case, there may be employed a playing method of a card game comprising the following steps of: (a) dealing a first predetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealing a first predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b) placing a normal BET; (c) placing a side BET different from the normal BET; (d) dividing the first predetermined number of the player's cards into cards for a first game and cards for a second game different from the first game in type; (e) dividing the first predetermined number of the banker's cards into cards for the first game and cards for the second game; (f) determining a result of the first game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the first game with the hand of the banker's cards for the first game; (g) determining a result of the second game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the second game with the hand of the banker's cards for the second game; (h) offering a payout based on the normal BET and the result of the games, when both the first game and the second game result in winning of the player; (i) acquiring a second predetermined number of the player's cards and a second predetermined number of the banker's cards by adding cards to the first predetermined number of the player's cards and the first predetermined number of the banker's cards, respectively, when the first game and the second game result in different winners and the side BET is placed in the step (c), or when both the first game and the second game result in losing of the player and the side BET is placed in the step (c); (j) dividing the second predetermined number of the player's cards acquired in the step (i) and the second predetermined number of the banker's cards acquired in the step (i) into cards for a third game, cards for a fourth game, and cards for a fifth game, respectively; (k) determining a result of the third game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the third game with the hand of the banker's cards for the third game; (l) determining a result of the fourth game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the fourth game with the hand of the banker's cards for the fourth game; (m) determining a result of the fifth game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the fifth game with the hand of the banker's cards for the fifth game; and (n) offering a payout, based on the result of the third game, the result of the fourth game, the result of the fifth game, and the side BET.

While, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where Pai-Gow poker is played as a game on which a normal BET is to be placed, there is no particular limitation on the game on which a normal BET is placed in the present invention, so long as the player's cards and the banker's cards are respectively divided into two sets of cards in the game and the game is played using the two sets of cards resulted from the division of cards.

Further, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where seven cards are divided into five cards and two cards in division of cards into two sets of cards. However, in the present invention, the number of cards before the division of cards into two sets of cards (the first predetermined number) and the number of cards constituting the respective sets of cards after the division of cards into two sets of cards are not limited to this example.

While, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where Chinese poker is executed as a game to be executed on condition that a side BET has been placed, there is no particular limitation on the game which is executed on condition that a side BET has been placed in the present invention, so long as player's cards and banker's cards are respectively divided into three sets of cards and the game is played using the three sets of cards resulted from the division of the cards.

Further, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where 13 cards are divided into two sets of five cards and a set of three cards in division of cards into three sets of cards. However, in the present invention, the number of cards before the division of cards into three sets of cards (the second predetermined number) and the number of cards constituting the respective sets of cards after the division of cards into three sets of cards are not limited to this example.

While, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where playing cards are used, the cards used in the present invention are not limited to playing cards, and it is possible to employ tarot cards, for example.

While, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where a dealer serves as a banker, a single player can serve as a banker when a plurality of players take part in a game, in the present invention.

Further, while, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where 50% of the side-BET credit value is cumulatively accumulated as a jackpot, the ratio (the predetermined ratio) of the side-BET currency value to be cumulatively accumulated is not limited to this example and may be properly determined as required.

Further, while, in the present embodiment, credit data corresponding to 50% of the side-BET credit value is cumulatively accumulated in the RAM 42 included in the main control portion 40, credit data corresponding to a predetermined ratio of the side-BET credit value may be cumulatively accumulated in a RAM included in each station.

Further, while, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case where the side-BET credit value is cumulatively accumulated and a payout for Chinese poker is paid out from the cumulatively accumulated credits, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, a payout may be offered from the banker's currency value, without accumulating the side-BET currency value.

Further, while, in the present embodiment, the payout for a normal BET and the payout for a side BET are separately conducted, the result of a game on which a normal BET is placed may be reflected on the payout to be conducted for a side BET, in the present invention.

Examples of such a structure include a structure in which the payout value to be offered to the player in the event that the game of Chinese poker results in winning of the player after the game of Pai-Gow poker has resulted in a tie to be higher than the payout value to be offered to the player in the event that the game of Chinese poker results in winning of the player after the game of Pai-Gow poker has resulted in losing of the player.

Further, while, in the present embodiment, the cards possessed by a player who is taking part in Chinese poker are displayed to the front display 21, it is not necessarily required to display, to the main monitor, the progress of a game which is executed on condition that a side BET has been placed. In this case, for example, the progress of a game which is executed on condition that a side BET has been place may be displayed only to the display in the station at which the player is taking part in the game, while displaying, to the main monitor, an image relating to a game on which a normal BET is to be newly placed, in order to enable players who are not taking part in the game executed on condition that a side BET has been placed to play the next game.

While, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, there have been described cases where players play Pai-Gow poker by viewing the main monitor 2 and the liquid crystal displays 10 included in the stations, the gaming machine according to the present invention is only required to include either a main monitor or liquid crystal displays (displays included in the stations). In the case of this structure, the dealer's cards (the banker's cards) and the player's cards may be displayed together to the main monitor or the displays in the stations.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments thereof, these embodiments merely illustrate concrete examples, not restrict the present invention. The concrete structures of respective means and the like can be designed and changed as required. Furthermore, there have been merely described most preferable effects of the present invention, as the effects of the present invention, in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention.

Further, in the aforementioned detailed description, characteristic portions have been mainly described, for ease of understanding the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the aforementioned detailed description, but can be also applied to other embodiments over a wider range of applications. Further, the terms and phrases used in the present specification have been used for clearly describing the present invention, not for limiting the interpretation of the present invention. Further, those skilled in the art will easily conceive other structures, systems, methods and the like which are included in the concept of the present invention, from the concept of the present invention described in the present specification. Accordingly, the description of the claims is intended to include equivalent structures that fall within the technical scope of the invention. Further, the abstract aims at enabling engineers and the like who belong to the present technical field but are not familiar with the patent office and public institutions, the patent, law terms and technical terms to immediately understand the technical content and the essence of the present application through brief studies. Accordingly, the abstract is not intended to restrict the scope of the invention which should be evaluated from the description of the claims. It is desirable that literatures and the like which have been already disclosed are sufficiently studied and understood, in order to sufficiently understand the objects of the present invention and the specific effects of the present invention.

In the aforementioned detailed description, there have been described processes to be executed by computers. The aforementioned description and expressions have been described for the sake of enabling those skilled in the art to understand the present invention most effectively. In the present specification, each step for deriving a single result should be understood to be self-consistent processing. Further, each step includes transmission, reception, recording and the like of electric or magnetic signals. Although, in the processing at each step, such signals have been expressed as bits, values, symbols, characters, terms, numerical characters and the like, it should be noticed that they have been merely used for convenience of description. Further, although the processing at each step was described using expressions common to human behaviors in some cases, the processes described in the present specification are to be executed by various types of devices, in principle. Further, other structures required for conducting each step will be apparent from the aforementioned description. 

1. A playing method of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing a predetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealing a predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b) placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (c) dividing the predetermined number of said player's cards and the predetermined number of said banker's cards into two sets of cards, respectively; (d) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of said player's cards divided into two sets with hands of said banker's cards divided into two sets; (e) dealing additional cards to the player and the banker, when determining that the game results in a tie or losing of the player in said step (d) and that said side BET is placed in said step (b); (f) dividing said player's cards and said banker's cards into three sets of cards, respectively, both said player's cards and said banker's cards including the additional cards dealt in said step (e); and (g) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of said player's cards divided into three sets with hands of said banker's cards divided into three sets.
 2. A playing method of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing a predetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealing a predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b) placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (c) cumulatively accumulating a predetermined ratio of a side-BET currency value; (d) dividing the predetermined number of said player's cards and the predetermined number of said banker's cards into two sets of cards, respectively; (e) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of said player's cards divided into two sets with hands of said banker's cards divided into two sets; (f) dealing additional cards to the player and the banker, when determining that the game results in a tie or losing of the player in said step (e) and that said side BET is placed in said step (b); (g) dividing said player's cards and said banker's cards into three sets of cards, respectively, both said player's cards and said banker's cards including the additional cards dealt in said step (f); (h) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of said player's cards divided into three sets with hands of said banker's cards divided into three sets; and (i) providing an award from cumulatively accumulated currency value, based on the result of winning/losing determination.
 3. A playing method of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing a first predetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealing a first predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b) placing a normal BET; (c) placing a side BET different from said normal BET; (d) dividing the first predetermined number of said player's cards into cards for a first game and cards for a second game different from said first game in type; (e) dividing the first predetermined number of said banker's cards into cards for said first game and cards for said second game; (f) determining a result of said first game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said first game with the hand of said banker's cards for said first game; (g) determining a result of said second game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said second game with the hand of said banker's cards for said second game; (h) providing an award based on said normal BET and the result of the games, when both said first game and said second game result in winning of the player; (i) acquiring a second predetermined number of said player's cards and a second predetermined number of said banker's cards by adding cards to the first predetermined number of said player's cards and the first predetermined number of said banker's cards, respectively, when said first game and said second game result in different winners and said side BET is placed in said step (c), or when both said first game and said second game result in losing of the player and said side BET is placed in said step (c); (j) dividing the second predetermined number of said player's cards acquired in said step (i) and the second predetermined number of said banker's cards acquired in said step (i) into cards for a third game, cards for a fourth game, and cards for a fifth game, respectively; (k) determining a result of said third game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said third game with the hand of said banker's cards for said third game; (l) determining a result of said fourth game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said fourth game with the hand of said banker's cards for said fourth game; (m) determining a result of said fifth game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said fifth game with the hand of said banker's cards for said fifth game; and (n) providing an award, based on the result of said third game, the result of said fourth game, the result of said fifth game, and said side BET.
 4. A gaming machine comprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; an input device; and a controller, said controller programmed to conduct the processing of: (a) displaying a predetermined number of player's cards and a predetermined number of banker's cards to said display; (b) accepting a side BET different from a normal BET, from said input device; (c) dividing the predetermined number of said player's cards and the predetermined number of said banker's cards into two sets of cards, respectively, based on an input from said input device; (d) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of said player's cards divided into two sets and hands of said banker's cards divided into two sets; (e) displaying additional cards for said player's cards and additional cards for said banker's cards to said display, when determining that the game results in a tie or losing of the player in said processing (d) and that said side BET is placed in said processing (b); (f) dividing said player's cards including the cards added in said processing (e) into three sets of cards, based on an input from said input device, and dividing said banker's cards including the cards added in said processing (e) into three sets of cards; and (g) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of said player's cards divided into three sets with hands of said banker's cards divided into three sets.
 5. A gaming machine comprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; an input device; and a controller, said controller programmed to conduct the processing of: (a) displaying a predetermined number of player's cards and a predetermined number of banker's cards to said display; (b) accepting a side BET different from a normal BET, from said input device; (c) cumulatively accumulating a predetermined ratio of a side-BET currency value; (d) dividing the predetermined number of said player's cards and the predetermined number of said banker's cards into two sets of cards, respectively, based on an input from said input device; (e) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of said player's cards divided into two sets and hands of said banker's cards divided into two sets; (f) displaying additional cards for said player's cards and additional cards for said banker's cards to said display, when determining that the game results in a tie or losing of the player in said processing (e) and that said side BET is placed in said processing (b); (g) dividing said player's cards including the cards added in said processing (f) into three sets of cards, based on an input from said input device, and dividing said banker's cards including the cards added in said processing (f) into three sets of cards; (h) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of said player's cards divided into three sets with hands of said banker's cards divided into three sets; and (i) providing an award from cumulatively accumulated currency value, based on the result of winning/losing determination.
 6. A gaming machine comprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; an input device; and a controller, said controller programmed to conduct the processing of: (a) displaying a first predetermined number of player's cards and a first predetermined number of banker's cards to said display; (b) accepting a normal BET from said input device; (c) accepting a side BET different from said normal BET, from said input device; (d) dividing the first predetermined number of said player's cards into cards for a first game and cards for a second game different from said first game in type, based on an input from said input device; (e) dividing the first predetermined number of said banker's cards into cards for said first game and cards for said second game; (f) determining a result of said first game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said first game with the hand of said banker's cards for said first game; (g) determining a result of said second game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said second game with the hand of said banker's cards for said second game; (h) providing an award based on said normal BET and the result of the games, when both said first game and said second game result in winning of the player; (i) displaying, to said display, a second predetermined number of said player's cards and a second predetermined number of said banker's cards acquired by adding cards to the first predetermined number of said player's cards and the first predetermined number of said banker's cards, respectively, when said first game and said second game result in different winners and said side BET is placed in said processing (c), or when both said first game and said second game result in losing of the player and said side BET is placed in said processing (c); (j) dividing the second predetermined number of said player's cards acquired in said processing (i) into cards for a third game, cards for a fourth game, and cards for a fifth game, based on the input from said input device, and dividing the second predetermined number of said banker's cards acquired in said processing (i) into cards for a third game, cards for a fourth game, and cards for a fifth game; (k) determining a result of said third game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said third game with the hand of said banker's cards for said third game; (l) determining a result of said fourth game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said fourth game with the hand of said banker's cards for said fourth game; (m) determining a result of said fifth game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said fifth game with the hand of said banker's cards for said fifth game; and (n) providing an award, based on the result of said third game, the result of said fourth game, the result of said fifth game, and said side BET. 